MINERALS AND ROCKS

LABORATORY

Analitica is a laboratory specialized in mineralogical analyses by X-ray diffraction (XRD) (UNI EN 13925/2006) on samples of minerals, rocks, waste, and industrial materials. The presence of technicians and researchers with geological, mineralogical and crystallographic knowledge allows our laboratory to serve the fields of geology, soil science and mineral resources, offering expertise and reliability. The laboratory is able to provide mineralogical, petrographic, chemical and particle-size analyses on samples of rocks, mineralizations, aggregates, earth materials, soils, clays and sediment samples collected from onshore drilling and offshore coring.

The Analitica laboratory offers advanced instrumentation, innovative methodologies and a multidisciplinary approach, integrating mineralogical, chemical, and morphological techniques to achieve rapid and highly accurate characterization of all types of minerals and rocks: silicates, carbonates, sulfides, sulfates, phosphates, oxides, sands and clays, as well as determination of the weight percentage of crystalline phases and the amorphous fraction using the Rietveld method.

The laboratory works with public authorities and research institutions, geotechnical laboratories and geological consulting firms to carry out petrographic, mineralogical, and chemical analyses, for regional and national-scale mapping and for specific studies on samples of earth materials, soils, marine sediments, cores and geo-pedological drillings. We offer technical and scientific expertise to address issues related to material production, processing, and industrial applications of minerals, as well as detailed analyses of sediments and clays, studying the interactions and influence of clay minerals (kaolinite, chlorite, illite, micas, smectites) on soils and crops.

Elenco analisi

Analysis of the crystalline phases present in samples by X-ray diffraction (XRD) (UNI EN 13925/2006) and the Rietveld method. Chemical composition analysis by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) (UNI EN 15309/2007).

Determination of the weight percentage concentration of minerals in the clay fraction (particle diameter < 2 microns) in soils, sediments and raw materials.

Petrographic study on thin sections by optical microscopy in transmitted polarized light of rocks (EN 12407/2019), aggregates, stone materials, mortars and ornamental stones.

Petrographic study on thin sections by optical microscopy in transmitted polarized light to determine the potential alkali reactivity of aggregates for concrete (UNI EN 11530/2014), and identification of amorphous silica phases responsible for pop-out phenomena in concrete. Simplified petrographic description of aggregates (UNI EN 932-3/2022).

Particle size analysis by laser diffraction (particle size distribution and cumulative curve) on industrial materials, cements and ceramic materials (ISO 13320-1/1999).

Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis; study of weight changes, phase transformations and thermal reactions up to 1600 °C.

Resolution of specific technical issues, optimization of raw material processing and technology transfer for industrial applications.